Flying target



A. McMlLLAN.

FLYING TARGET. APPucmou men JULY 6. 1920.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

ALEXANDER MCMILLM 2m msr ALEXANDER MOMILLAN, OF PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.

FLYING TARGET.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed July 6, 1920. Serial No. 894,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MCMIL- .LAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Princeton in the county of Mercer and State of blew Jersey, have mvented a new and Improved Flying Target,

ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to flying targets,

and has particular reference to one which is indestructible.

An objectof the invention is to provide a flying target which can be used over and over again without its utility being impaired by constant use.

Another object resides in the provision of means whereby the target when struck by shot will be separated into several parts and thereby fall, indicating a hit, and at the same time so constructed as to be readily reassembled without damage.

I Other objects reside in the particular construction and arrangement of parts as clearly set forth in the following description and claims taken in'connection with panying drawing.

The invention comprises in general a flying target having a plurality of wing portions with turnedup outer edges, so that when the target is revolved the turnedup propeller edges tend to cause the target to support itself in the air so that it more truly flies than most clay targets which are merely thrown through the air. The various portions of the target are similar in shape and the accomare detachably connected together by means of a temporary resilient gripping engagement between certain ofv the parts of each portion with similar parts of another portion, whereby the targetcan be readily assembled and when hit by a shot instantly falls apart.

The fact that the target falls apart into its several separate portions when hit by shot makes it very easy ,to register hits in shooting contests, and the fact that these parts when separated are not destroyed but can be readily assembled in their normal condition and relation makes the target economical in use, as it can be used many times over.

This target may be used with any suitable machine, if desired, and is adapted to be used with a machine as shown and described in my Patent No. 1,332,7 35 entitled Shooting trap, issued March 2, 1920.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, of whichigure 1. is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts-of the target shown in Figs. 1 and 2 1n sepa- 7 rated condition;

Fig. 4 is'a plan View of a modified form of target having only two propeller surfaces;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the same taken on the. line 5-5 of Fig. 4:; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the wing elements of the target shown in Figs. 4 and 5, shown in their separated condition.

The invention as shown in the drawing comprises a flying target which in one form is made oftwo wing portions, each portion having two propeller surfaces connected by an intermediate body portion. The propeller surfaces are indicated by the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4; and the body portion, by the numeralso and 6. Eachbody portion is provided with central square apertures 7 through which, if desired, the shaft of an impelling or throwing machine may be inserted.

On one of the body portions, such as 5, ear portions'8 and 9 are struck up out of the metal of the body portion and sloped upwardly and slightly inclined toward each other, as shown in Fig. 3. The portions 8 and 9 are struck up on opposite sides of the aperture 7 in line with the longitudinal axis of the body portion 5. The body portion 6,

which is provided with a similar aperture 7, is provided with struck-up ear portions 10 and 11 shaped similarly to portions 8 and 9 but which are struck up on opposite sides of aperture 7 of body portion 6 in a line parallel to the transverse axis of body portion 6. The ear portions 8, 9, 10 and 11- are formed integral with the metal of the wing portions and are resilient. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the two wing portions are assembled by inserting the ear portions 10 and 11 through the apertures 12 and 13in the body portion 5 so that their upwardly curved resilient inner surfaces lie along the outer similarly curved surfaces of the ear portions 8 and 9, thereby achieving a resilient gripping engagement between the ear portions whereby the body portions are maintained in their proper relation.

As shown Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a flying tioned'. This particular modification comprises a slot 19 in the body portion 17 on one side of the aperture 18, and a fastener stud. 20 on the other side of the aperture 18. The body portion 16 is prou vided with an end portion 21 adapted to be inserted in the slot 19, and with angaperture 22 into which the resilient fastener stud '20 can be inserted. As shown in Figs. 4

and 5, by slipping the end portion 21 into .the slot 19 from the under side of body por-- I tion 17 and then pressing the resilient fastener stud 20 into the aperture 22, the two body portions 16 and 17 are resiliently gripped together.

In both these forms of flying targets, 1t

V will be readily perceived that it will require of prope of propeller portions,

only a slight blow on either of the body.

portions or the ropeller' surfaces to separate the two he y portions, since the gripping engagement between the body portions is only heavy enough to keep them assembled until struck, by shot.

WhatI claim is:

1. A fl ing target comprisin a plurality ler portions and resi ient connections therebetween whereby the "impact of shot thereon will separate the propeller portions from one another.

2. A flying target comprisinga plurality of propeller portions and resilient members on each propeller portion, adapted to engage each other when the portions are assembled, the engagement ofthe portions being only sufficient to normally hold them assembled, whereby the impact of shot thereon will separate the wing portions from one another.

3. A flying target comprising a plurality integral resilient members on each propeller portion adapted to engage each other when the portions are assembled, the engagement of the portions being only suflicient to normally hold them resilient assembled, whereby the impact ofshot thereon will separate the wing portions from one another. v

l. A flying target comprising a plurality of wing portions of resilient material, eac portion having integral struck-up ear portions, the ear portions of one wing portion adapted to lie along and resiliently engage the ear portions of another wing portion when the wing portions are assembled tohold the wing portions lightly together whereby the impact of shot thereon will separate the wing portions from 'one another.

V 5. A- flying target, having a wing portion, said wing portion comprising a propeller surface at one end, a body portion having an aperture centrally located therein, and a resilient integral struck-up ear portion on one side of said aperture.

6. A flying target having a wing portion, said wing portion comprlsing a propeller surface at one end thereof and a body portion having an aperture, engaging means on the body portion on one side of said aperture and adapted to engagerwith the body portion of another wing portion.

7 A flying target having'a pair of wing portions, each of said wing portions comprising a ropeller surface at one end thereof and a body portion having an aperture therein, engaging means disposed on opposite sides of the aperture of one of said body portions in line with'the longitudinal axis thereof, and en aging means disposed on opposite sides 0 the aperture ofthe other of said body portions in line with the transverse axis thereof, said engaging means adapted to lightly and resiliently contact with each other when the two wing portions are assembled whereby the impact of shot thereon will separate the wing portions from one another.

8. A flying target comprising a plurality of propeller portions, said portions being separable and held in their assembled relation only by the resilient contacting engagement of integral members on each of said propeller portions.

ALEXANDER MQMILLAN. 

